Inhalator



gwum vbo'b Blclije M. Rice B. M. RICE INHALATOR Filed April 9, 1938 coMPREsroR T May 13,

i atented May 13, 1941 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE INHALATOR Blaine M. Rice, Apollo, Pa.

Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,167

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the class of medicators and pertains particularly to improvements in inhaling devices designed for the administration of medicines to the respiratory passages.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide an improved inhalator apparatus by means of which liquid medicines may be administered to the lungs for the purpose of treating pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia or the like, the apparatus being so constructed as to provide a purified air stream in which the medicine is absorbed before being conducted to the lungs of the patient receiving treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above described character, a novel means for heating and. sterilizing air and removing foreign particles therefrom before impregnating it with the medicinal substance with which a patient is to be treated. 2

Still another object of the invention is to proe vide a novel means for bringing about an absorption of the medicinal agent by the purified heated air which is employed for carrying the agent to the person receiving treatment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of the above described character, a novel means of impregnating cleansed and sterilized air with a liquid medicinal agent by mixing the air in a heated condition with the agent and subsequently reducing the temperature of the medicinal agent carrying air before administering the air to a patient.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism of the character above described, a novel means for combining oxygen with the medicinal agent laden air before the same is administered.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the inhalator apparatus embodying the present invention, a portion of a unit thereof being in section;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the air discharge nozzle within the mixing tank;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the coupling between the oxygen tank and the oxygen distributing tubes;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the connection of a heater element with the wall of the housing therefor;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through an air cleaner forming a part of the device;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig.2;

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I- generally designates an air heater which is electrically operated and which comprises a housing 2 having an air inlet preferably at the top at the point indicated by the numeral 3 and an air outlet coupling as indicated at 4 at the bottom of the housing. Within the housing are arranged a number of vertically spaced electric heating elements each of which is generally designated by the numeral 5 and while these units may be of any suitable form, the one here illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 as being representative of the group, comprises supporting bars 8 of refractory material about which are electric resistance wires 9, the ends of which are carried off through the insulation 'block l0 which is secured to the outer side of the housing 2, to the electric cable I I which leads to an instrument board which is generally designated by the numeral l2 and upon which are mounted the various switches, meters and other control devices for facilitating the controlled operation of the entire apparatus.

Connected with the outlet 4 for the air heater unit is a pipe l3 in which is connected a thermometer M by which the temperature of the air passing therethrough may be observed and there is also connected in line with this pipe an air cleaner unit I5 which, as shown in Fig. 7, comprises a divided casing having the opposed joined flanges l6 by which its two parts may be secured together, in which is a suitable air straining or filtering medium H, such as fine tightly packed steel wool.

The pipe line [3 is connected with the intake of a suitable compressor unit which may be of standard construction and which is generally indicated by the numeral [8. This compressor unit meral 22.

has the outlet line l9 controlled by a suitable valve and from this valve a suitable pipe line having a coupling v2| therein, leads to an air filter, which is indicated as a whole by the nu- This filter, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, comprises the two casing parts 23 which are joined together by means of the flange coupling 24 and each of which has a pipe nipple formed integral therewith as indicated at 25. Qne of these nipples has connected therewith the pipe leading from the compressor unit while the other nipple has one end of the pipe line 25 connected therewith as shown, this pipe line having a suitable union 21 therein so that by means of this union and the union 2| the filter may be detached for convenient renovation when necessary.

The filter unit 22 houses the two screened walls 28 between which is confined a suitable filtering material, preferably dried sterilized cotton, indicated at 2-9. 7

The numeral 30 generally designates the mixing chamber in which the 'medicinal agent employed is combined With the heated, and purified .air, which is conducted thereto through the pipe .line '25. This mixing chamber 30 has a removable top 31 through which the other end of the pipe line 25 extends, the same being directed downwardly in the mixing chamber or receptacle as shown. This pipe line 26 is provided with a suitable air pressure gauge 32 so that the pressure of air passing through'the line 26 can be noted at all times by the person attending the apparatus.

The mixing chamber has the depressed or basin-like wall 33 in its lower part as shown in Fig. 1, so that by reason of this the mixing chamber is divided into an upper portion 34 in which the actual mixing and saturation of the air with the medicinal agent takes place, and a lower portion 35 from which the medicine-impregnated air is drawn, the Wall 33 having an outlet 35 at its center to permit the unabsorbed medicine to pass through and back to the pump hereinafter described.

The numeral 3'? generally designates a pressure pump of a type suitable'for pumping liquids under high pressure, this pump being of the variety having a pressure dome 38 in which the pressure is built up so that the flow of liquid therefrom through the pipe line 39 will be constant and under high pressure. This pipe line 39 passes from the. pump 31 to the mixing re ceptacle or chamber 30 into the upper portion 34 thereof and it terminates within the receptacle in the upwardly directed spray nozzle which is in opposed relation with the outlet end of the pipe 26. The end of the pipe 26 from which the compressed air issues has thereover a cap 4!, as shown in Fig. 4, which cap has a relatively small outlet aperture 42 for the passage of air and covering this cap 4| is a suitable fabric protecting bag 43 which operates to prevent conpart 35 of the receptacle 3?! by way of the outlet 36 so that this liquid may be drawn off and sprayed into the upper part of the receptacle. Any unabsorbed liquid passing into the lower part of the receptacle will be ire-circulated by r the pump 31.

densation of moisture on the cap 4| around the in through the -pipe.25 and the pump 3? may have the pipe 44 connecting it with the lower The numeral #55 designates the medicated air conducting pipe by which such air is led to the person receiving treatment. This pipe is connected in any suitable manner with the lower part 35 of the receptacle 3!! to receive the medicine-laden air and such air is discharged from the pipe 45 through the cone 35 in which it terminates and which is adapted to be placed over the mouth of the patient, leaving the nose uncovered so that the patient may inhale the medicated air through the mouth and exhale through the nostrils.

The air passing through the receptacle 35 Will berelatively highly heated and for this reason would not be in the proper condition to be passed directly to .a patient, therefore, the pipe "55 is run through a suitable cooling unit which is here conventionally shown and generally designated by the numeral 41. This unit 51 may be in the form of a housing which may be supplied with cold air to surround the pipe 55 or which may encase a suitable cooling unit such as a refrigerating coil.

Under certain condtions, it may be desirable to add to the air passing through the pipe #5 a certain amount of oxygen and, therefore, there is provided the valved pipe 48 which leads to a manifold box 49, discharging into the box through the tip 5i! which is provided with a small outlet aperture 5| whereby the oxygen will enter the manifold in a fine stream. In addition to having a control valve in the line 58, the same is provided with a suitable pressure indicator 52 of the same type as the indicator 32. This pipe 58 is adapted to be connected with a tank 53 .of the variety commonly employed for the commercial distribution of oxygen under pressure.

Leading from the manifold 29 is a plurality of small tubes 54 which lead to the pipe 45 and have their discharge ends extended into the same at various points, as shown in Fig. 8. With this arrangement, the oxygen passing through the tubes will be introduced into the medicated air stream passing through the pipe 45 in such a manner as to obtain a thorough dispersion or mixture of the oxygen in the air.

The 'air conducting pipe 45 is preferably provided with a thermometer 55 between the oxygen tubes 54 and the face cone 46 so that the temperature of the medicated air may be checked and the refrigerating unit adjusted for temperature as may be necessary.

Referring back to the instrument panel l2, it will be seen that there is mounted thereon a series of switch units 58. Associated with each of these switches is-a current registering meter 51. At the upper end of the line of meters and switches is a main control switch 58. This main switch controls the flow of current to the several switches 55 and each of these switches together with a meter 57 is coupled by a suitable circuit connection with a heating element 5. The numeral 59 designates a main switch controlling the flow of current to all of the other units on the board and the numerals 60, BI and 52 designate respectively control switches .for the compressor [8, the pump 3'! and the refrigerator or cooling unit 41, Current may be supplied to the several units through the switch 59 by way of a suitable current cable 63. No specific showing of the circuit arrangement for the various switches and electrical units has been given as it will be readily recognized that such a circuit may be easily laid out by a competent electrician and the particular circuit employed in association with the apparatus forms no part of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 9, the modified form of the invention here shown comprises an air drying and heating unit which is generally designated by the numeral 64 and this is of substantially the same construction as the unit I in that it has a casing 65 with electrical heating elements (not shown) therein, and an air inlet at the top as indicated at B6. The lower part of this unit, however, leads to a downwardly and laterally directed outlet conduit 61 which is coupled with the air intake side of an air pump 68, the outlet for which comprises the long pipe 69 which is joined with the pipe section 10 which enters the top of a mixing receptacle 1| which is of the same form as the receptacle 30 previously described. The pipe 69 of the modified form is provided with a suitable temperature indicator 12 for the air passing therethrough and the liquid medicinal agent which is mixed with the heated air passing into the receptacle H is injected under pressure by the pump I3.

Associated with the receptacle H is the medicated air outlet pipe '14, the air temperature reducing unit 15, the medicated air temperature indicator 76 connected in the pipe 14, and the oxygen supplying means which is generally designated bythe numeral TI. as in the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In the modified form of the invention, the medicated air conducting pipe 14 is preferably connected with a suitable flexible tube 18 which in turn connects with the inhaling cone (not shown) which is of the same character as the cone 46.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that in the operation of either of the two forms All of these parts are 7 of the present invention, the air in passing through the heating unit I will be thoroughly heated by the units 5 and in addition to this, its contact with these highly heated units will result in its being sterilized. This air is drawn in by the compressor [8 and passes through the filtering units l5 and 22 and is then discharged into the receptacle 3|] against the upwardly directed stream of medicinal liquid which is injected by the pump 31. Because of the highly heated condition of the air it will absorb a large quantity of medicinal liquid and for this reason, the desired result of conveying the liquid in vaporized form to a patient will be readily accomplished. The temperature of the medicated air can be easily controlled by the unit 41 as previously explained, and the need of the patient for additional oxygen may be met by the oxygen supply unit 53. It will thus be seen that with this apparatus controlled quantities of medicinal agent may be given to patients suffering from pulmonary diseases so that the best action from such medicinal agent may be obtained.

What is claimed is: V

A receptacle for vapor under pressure, a conducting pipe of relatively large diameter leading from said receptacle and provided with an inhalator at its free extremity, a gas supply tank, a manifold having valved connection with said tank, said valve connection comprising a valve at one end of the tank, a pipe leading from said valve and having a threaded end extending into said manifold and provided with a cap having a small perforation affording admission of gas to the manifold, said manifold having a flat head against which the entering gas strikes whereby substantially even pressure is maintained in the manifold, and a series of relatively small diameter tubes connecting said manifold to the conducting pipe between the inhalator and the receptacle, said tubes opening into the pipe at separate individually spaced points relative to the axis of the pipe.

BLAINE M. RICE. 

